The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-09-23


we are through our journey. We
walked along the banks of the River
Styx, poke your canes at the eyeless
fish, the crabs and cave crickets, go
on past Lake Sethe, through great
chamber called the Great Walk and
come TO halt on the banks of Echo
river. Here we take boats, regular
fiat bottomed scows and start out for
our ride on the underground river.
Of all the rides / ever had this is the
most curious and memorable; CT all
the places and experiences calculated
to make a man solemn and serious,
think OF his friends and form New
Years resolutions this un or rather
under earthly river ride stands at the
head. We start out by doubling up
like jack.knife to pass under rocks
that hang near the water. Soon we st
erect again and find ourselves in pas
sage about as wide and high as the
first floor of an ordinary store build.
ing. The water'looks inky dark and
angry, although in reality as clear as
crystal. The guide tells us it is from
three to thirty feet deep, comforting
knowledge under the circumstances,
all thirty feet to us. The wierd light
from the Aickering, smoky, lanterns
make grotesque figures of the jagged
rocks and throws awful shadows into
the side passages. But above all
else the echo is The rost wonderful;
whisper becomes hum of many
voices, spoken word is yell from a
hundred threats and loud halloo a
legion of demons bent on our de
struction. A rap on the boat from
the paddle will discount any thunder
storm on record. We ride on through
this wilderness Of sounds for half a
mile and land Oh The further shore.
We climb over sand hills damp from
the moist air of the cavern, over piles
of rocks, creep along narrow lodges
nn the sides of The passage, through
Serpent's Hall and the Valley Of
Flowers. We see the stern of the
Great Western shaped IN the solid
rock of the cavern. Here we see a
glimmer of light in the distance and
hail with shout the news that our
lunch is waiting for US. We are soon
there and ready for business. We
might be taken for party of ancient
mound builders at dinner. There on
a jagged rock sits professor with a
sandwich in one hand and half a
chicken in the other, doing ample
Justice to the meal without the aid of
knife or fork. Over yonder leaning
against the wall is high authority
on chemical matters playing melon
choly tune on rock near by with a
recently emptied bottle. We have
but one dlpper in the party and stand
in line taking turns at the water pail.
But | wish you to understand that
that meal was success and that but
little remained to be carried back in
the baskets.
1t is now past noon and we have
made but half the journey to the end
of the cave, or only one quarter OF
the days walk. But we are braced
up by dinner and start on again with
fresh courage. We climb up and
down hills again for an hour and
come to Martha's Vineyard where
great clusters of grapes hang on the
walls and ceilings. The water drip
ping from them looking like newly
made wine. The snow ball room,
where the ceiling is covered with
white crystals that look like SNOW
balls thrown there by mischievous
schoolboys. Flora's garden where
roses, lilies and even sunfoWers are
scattered over sides and roof, all in
white crystals of gypsum through the
vale of diamonds where bright crys
taline particles glisten like gems a:
the guide Eliminates the hall. A
little farther on we came 10 the foot
hills of the Rocky mountains. We
are tired and footsore, but two third.
OF us climb over these huge piles o.
rocks sixty to eighty feet high dowr
into deep valleys and up again unit
at last we reach Croghan's Hall ant
are at our journeys end. Here TIT
guide lights rag saturated with OF
and swinging it around his head
throws 1t into q dark corner Of tn,
room. Down, down it goes till it look
like glittering star and finally rests
at the bottom two hundred and fort,
feet below US. Perhaps you enjo,
finding yourself standing on the verg'
of pit deep enough to answer for TIL
crater of volcano; so did we but W,
didn't linger on the edge. 1t has
tendeny to make mans heart palpi
tate and his hat raise voluntarily I,
discover himself unexpectedly but ;
foot or two from eternity. 1Eit ~
said we were at our journeys end
So we are but we are seven and one
half miles from the entrance by tn
shortest route and must retrace GU
| 49,. ~ etav with the cave rate an.